Flat Tire Madness
I've had 4 flats in the last 120 km riding on a 2009 Cervelo S1 with Vittoria Rubino Pro Slick tires. Any suggestions? I've read good reviews about the tires, and have tried a different tube types.
Thx
mike_ch_1 - you didn't mention if you ever found anything in your tire, like glass or a staple etc..
I mount my tires (Continental Grand Prix 4000) with the valve stems centred on the label of the tire. If I get a flat I remove the tire and tube, check the tube to find the hole. Then I line up the tire with the tube and reference the hole in the tube back to the tire and carefully check the tire to make sure there is nothing still stuck in the tread that will puncture the tube again. The location of the hole in the tube will also be a good clue as to what is causing the flat. If it's on the tire side of the tube its probably something in the tire. If its on the rim side of the tube, check your rim tape and rim for burrs. Two holes side by side is low tire pressure (the rim has bottomed out on a pot hole pinching the tube in two places).
Riding on wet roads seems to increase your chances of a flat - the theory is that glass and other nasties can work their way through a tire easier when lubricated by the water.
Hope that helps
I'd guess that, if you've been riding on the same set of tires since 2009 and you've logged a lot of km's, they're probably worn down far enough that the tube is more easily punctured...Also, I've found there's more debris on side of the roads in springtime from what's been left by snow plows over winter...If you've been getting flats in the same geographical location every time, you might just be consistently riding through the same debris in a sketchy section of road (ie. a construction area)
I'm not a huge fan of the ride quality of the Vittoria Rubino line of tires because of their stiff casing...You can, however, fill them up to 140psi which would make them less susceptible to pinch flatting...
I like Continental Gatorskins for their puncture resistance, their long lifespan, the way they feel in the corners, and their price tag...I'm using Michelin Krylion Carbon tires right now and I'm happy with them as well for all the same reasons as the Gatorskins (as an added bonus, they come with different coloured thin stripes to tastefully match your bike's colour scheme)...A lot of folks swear by the new Continental GP4000s tires, but I haven't tried them myself...
I've had a piece of glass work in (and stay in) once - running your hand along the inside of the tire can find the nasty.
Sometimes it is riding in the wet: wet glass sticks to the tire works in lubricated by the water. Round and round and round... fft.
Sometimes that is just the price of light. Glass cuts through that thinner (more flexible) rubber. Tires best saved for swept courses.
Sometimes that is just luck. I've had bad days/weeks/months/years. (Don't go there.)
Flats occur more frequently when it's time to replace the tires. The accumulated wear makes them more susceptable to flats. When tires need to be replaced you'll see the profile of the tire change - it takes on a more "square" (flat) appearance instead of the nice round profile.
Another possible problem could be the way the tire was mounted. If you're not careful about how the tube/tire combination are slipped on to the rim, you can get some pinching of the tube that results in flats.
If you're looking for a tire recommendation, I've been using the Michelin Pro 3 tires for a while now and have pleased with them.
Hope this helps.
Good luck,
Mel